View Full Version : *London cafes: your very best recommendations, please!
I'm about to post up a short guide to the best cafes in London, in the style of the Brixton cafe guide (http://www.urban75.org/brixton/cafes/index.html).
I'd really appreciate your help on this, so if you've got any cafe gems to share, please post up its name, address, (if poss) phone number and a short paragraph describing what's so darn good about it.
agricola
26-03-2003, 10:13
Shepherdess Cafe
City Road j/w Shepherdess Walk, N1
Always packed, food is great and cheap, ideal for City types along Moorgate and Old Street who reject the Starbucks / Costa Coffee / Cafe Nero places.
isvicthere?
26-03-2003, 10:17
What about the Cafe on the Hill? Without it the guide looks a bit central Brixton-centric. Especially since you give Bonnington Square Cafe a mention.
isvicthere?
26-03-2003, 10:18
Edited until I know what I'm talking about.
Best greasy spoon in London - Regency Cafe - corner of Regency Street and Page Street, SW1.
It's a proper old-style formica counters job with a nice atmosphere, great grub, and cheap - a huge plate of food and a mug of tea for around £4.
chieftain
26-03-2003, 11:25
The Mess Cafe in Amhurst road Hackney is the best cafe in Hackney by miles, really nice grub with chilled music and free papers to boot.
Acre Lane coffee house opposite Lidl deserves a mention if you're more interested in a decent fry up instead of the 'ambiawnse' of Goya at a very reasonable price. Run by two brothers its a cafe of the plastic seated variety and tbh the seats are a little close together;but you do get fast, friendly service and a diverse menu (for a fry up cafe). Useful for those that want to eat as opposed to being 'seen'.
Streathamite
26-03-2003, 12:58
there is a little gem on Ladywell Rd, ladywell. It's called "life" (and Mine Host is clearly on a hippy tip!). daytime food is first-rate fry-ups, sarnies etc-but at night it becomes a thai joint. Out of the way (unless you're down my way!) but damn good-friendly, clean, ace food.
The London Café, Turnpike Lane.. is a great place to hang out for an hour or so. Located next to the tube station, the building is a gem of 1930s architecture.
The clientele mainly consists of men, students, and couples. But with plenty of tables, you needn’t feel threatened of having your personal space invaded. – A selection of broadsheet & tabloid newspapers are available to read.
The café itself has a wide-ranging menu. With all selections the quality of the grease is guaranteed. For vegetarians, the ‘bubble’ is simply a café must. – The chef will also accommodate ‘off the menu’ choices, such as ‘scrambled egg on 2 toast’.
Feeling dined & refreshed you have the choice of exploring Green Lanes, taking in some air on Duckett’s Common, or catching up with some shopping in the newly refurbished Shopping City.
Enjoy.
;)
secretsquirrel
26-03-2003, 13:35
indeed, hollis - the london cafe does possess a 'unique' charm!
can i add the arnos cafe situated in the beautiful environs of the north circular just past the turning for brownlow rd by bounds green - this is the dogs proverbials in terms of sheer volume of food to price ratio - they do fab bubble and a great cup of frothy cafe coffee
also ... now we is posh and living in the desirable part of palmers green, go to the station cafe which (funnily enough) is by palmer's green station - in fact, there's an entrance to it from the station itself - superb food - everything from greasy spoon to salads to vino to great coffee to full meals to big cakes bought from the farmers market next door - great thing on a sunday is stroll up to farmers market in station car park, buy lots of lovely food, go into cafe and buy lots more lovely food and finish off with a stroll across the triangle (eccentric opening hours permitting) to go to pahit ice - a full on old fashioned ice cream parlour with all homemade flavours which you can have made into any combo of milkshake for £2 - they also do take home tubs and loads of pancakes
collapse from sheer weight of food consumed but die happy
:D
Originally posted by Hollis
The London Café, Turnpike Lane.. is a great place to hang out for an hour or so. Located next to the tube station, the building is a gem of 1930s architecture.
With the greatest of respect, you appear to be living in a parallel universe to me or - I hope - taking the piss.
I know that café well and would be very hard pushed to describe it as a 'gem of 1930s architecture' - more like a scruffy, smokey phlegm palace.
The coffee's shit and and Ducketts Common outside is a nasty, chip-wrapper-strewn scrap of land, while Wood Green Shopping Centre is one of the most ghastly modern shopping 'experiences' to be found anywhere on the planet.
secretsquirrel
26-03-2003, 13:48
oi! you leave shopping city / wood green high st alone - they have a very high quality of pound shop i'll have you know and are great for rummaging around on a saturday afternoon to the delicate sound of police sirens and the pounding of bass emitting from souped up beemers driven with all the atttiude that can be mustered at a top speed of 5mph in a traffic jam
sorry, but i like it in an 'urban' kind of a way
Wowbagger
26-03-2003, 16:52
The Workman's Inn, Blackstock Road. Will do everything you expect of a proper caff, nice and cheap, and they make the tea in the proper way of filling the mug right up and then tipping half of it out and adding milk. Located opposite the King's Head (more or less) and as long as you aren't going in there in full Totnum kit screaming GLORY GLORY TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR, it's a good place for away fans to grab a bite if they're visiting Highbury. It's also run by a Spermz fan, which is good for comic relief.
I'd also be a bit lax if I didn't mention Tony's Hemp Cafe at the King's Cross end of Caledonian Road, opposite Housman's. Not had a chance to actually go in there yet, but it looks very nice.
Oh, and if Duckett's Common is the place I'm thinking of, it's a shithole. It's never looked better than when you can't see it under a thick covering of snow.
agricola
26-03-2003, 17:20
theres a boss one in lansdowne drive e8 whose name escapes me though.... has loads of old theatre adverts in it
Foil_Counter
26-03-2003, 17:25
Originally posted by Wowbagger
..... and they make the tea in the proper way of filling the mug right up and then tipping half of it out and adding milk.
What's the point of this ? Sounds wasteful.
:confused:
Leaving aside the distraction of Duckett's Common, the London Cafe is - in its own way - one of my favourite cafes! Its especially good on Sunday afternoons, when you're coming down from 'things'.
Now, if I'd really wanted to take the piss, several other cafes in Wood Green spring to mind.. such as the 'Eat Well Cafe' opposite Wood Green tube, and one behind the Shopping City..located in a portacabin.
Barbican Grill, Whitecross Street, near the Barbican.
Very popular lunctime place - excellent value. Meat and two veg plus pudding type menu. Formica style. Run by Clerkenwell Italians - even the Shephards Pie has tomatos in it.
Street market outside in Whitecross Street
Uncle Damn
26-03-2003, 21:55
Pete's caff at the top of Brixton Hill, along from the Telegraph pub, if its still there. Used to drive from Streatham for the fry ups when I was labouring there :)
Hokey, version 1 of the London cafe guide (http://www.urban75.org/photos/london/cafes.html) is now up and running: thanks to all who contributed!
If there's any fantastic cafés missing, please post them up here - but I'll need their full details, and don't forget, I'm after exceptionally good cafés, not just alright ones.
You'll notice I've introduced a 'rating' system - I don't think anyone's going to take it too seriously, but hopefully it might give a little more info - post up here if I've got one horrendously wrong.
I haven't given many cafés the 'good vibes' icon because that's designed for cafés that are so good that you'll likely to spend hours there - so greasy spoons don't really qualify!
Ooops - I think you've C&P'ed my typos.
Should be:
Very popular lunchtime place - excellent value. Meat and two veg plus pudding type menu. Formica style. Run by Clerkenwell Italians - even the Shepherd's Pie has tomatoes in it
XerxesVargas
27-03-2003, 10:44
The Workers Cafe, Holloway Rd ( Bout halfway between Highbury & Islington Tube and Holloway tube).
They do great greasy spoon food, fry-ups and the like. THe atmosphere is ok, and they have papers. Oh and its cheap.
Ron Merlin
27-03-2003, 11:11
Originally posted by editor
...more like a scruffy, smokey phlegm palace.
The coffee's shit and and Ducketts Common outside is a nasty, chip-wrapper-strewn scrap of land, while Wood Green Shopping Centre is one of the most ghastly modern shopping 'experiences' to be found anywhere on the planet.
LOL Ed! Brilliant! The coffeee there is truly vile. I lived 5 mins away from that place for a few years and went in there just the once, tried the coffee, nearly puked and was forced to seek solace in the more salubrious suroundings of wino/dogshit park also known as Duckett's Common.
Apologies to Hollis for this, BTW ;)
I'd recommend Banner's on Park Road in Crouch End. Their breakfasts are stupendous and you can have a lovely beer with them, if your guts are up to it.
Spud Murphy III
27-03-2003, 15:41
There is also a London Cafe off Newington Green. It's clean and tidy inside, popular with workmen.
SOME NORTH OF THE RIVER
In Islington: yes, The Shepherdess is good. Also the Angel Inn by Angel Islington is good. The best in that area is Alpino on Chapel Market. It's worth a look just to check out the 1930s decor.
Along Holloway Road: the Highbury Cafe is good and has been there a long time. On the wall is one of their old menus from the 1950s. Further up is the Panda Restaurant, where the old dears go. Good for school-dinner type puddings.
Camden: the New Goodfare restaurant on Parkway is the best. Family-run, the capo di capo here is about 60 but dyes his hair black and wears plenty of medallions. Other cafe owners know him well - he is a 'character'. Past the Stables Market is John's Cafe, a good old-school workman's cafe. Nearer Camden tube is the Woody Grill, which looks like something out of Twin Peaks. By Camden Road station is the Parma: this has recently had a refit and looks a bit bland inside but has a lively atmosphere.
Euston: Eversholt Street has plenty of cafes. The Victory Cafe is run by an old Sicilian couple, very friendly. Further up is the Double Six, which has a cosy snug bit at the back. Conspiratorial atmosphere, popular with cabbies. There's also a weird-looking one run by an Irish bloke - name eludes me right now - but the front of it looks like an old wooden shack. You sit on a raised platform inside. Off Drummond Street is the Piccolo Snack Bar. As the name suggests, it's pretty small inside but nice old-time feel.
The best cafe on Chalton Street nearby is the Pinner, run by Turks. Popular with workmen and RMT officials. Round the corner is the Golden Tulip, run by Dennis and his extended family. A nice community feel here, lots of people nip in and out during the day for a yack.
Kings Cross: two good cafes have been lost here recently: the Railway (underneath St Pancras Station) and Bar Uno, formerly the Beehive, formerly the A1. The old lady, Maria, who ran it has now retired. The Modern Snack Bar has been revamped thanks to the Kings Cross Partnership and now looks crap. That leaves the Beano on Caledonian Road, which is tolerable, no more. Best to head south down the Farringdon Road to Muratori's, run by Gianni. Brilliant place, long history. Also the Kings Cafe near the sorting office is good, nice Turkish-style murals on the walls.
West End: well-spotted the Regency, Epona. Quite spartan and masculine inside (pictures of boxers on the wall), but very good value. Nearby is the groovily-named Astral Cafe, though the name just comes from the block of flats above it, Astral House. Down Horseferry Road is the fine-looking Fiesta Sandwich Bar, with a beautiful old sign and nice squidgy orange vinyl fitted seating.
SOME SOUTH OF THE RIVER
Battersea: plenty along Battersea Park Road. Highly recommended is Dave's Diner and the famous Corelli's. Check out Corelli's beautiful sign in the shape of an ice-cream cornet. I'll mention the Jimmy Griddle solely because of the name. Further west is the imaginately named The Cafe, run by a bunch of friendly Turkish nutters. Good puddings. By the little market in Battersea High Street is Lito's Cafe, very old-school inside, lots of old geezers, run by Chinese or Vietnamese people. On Lavender Hill is the Lavender Restaurant: good grub, popular with indigenous locals, but the bloke who runs is a bit up himself.
Peckham: the Star Cafe by Peckham Rye Park does a good mixed grill, and now and again an alright bit of roast beef or lamb. Big and echoey inside, once was a licensed restaurant, now struggles a bit later on in its lifecycle. At the other end of Rye Lane I recommend the Como Restaurant and the Criterion.
Bloody hell I can think of loads more . . . anyway . . .
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL CAFF!
William of Walworth
27-03-2003, 16:09
Should just mention the Regency Cafe in Regency Road, just off Horseferry Road (SW1) where it turns a corner.
Spud likes it I know.
<planned mention of Walworth area cafes edited cos Stg and I don't agree 100% about the merits of the Famous Walworth Road cafe ... :p >
hammerntongues
27-03-2003, 16:23
Obsolete now cos its been closed for a couple of years but The Market Cafe just by The Ten Bells on the edge of EC3 ,I used to go in there on a regular basis for a good old fashioned Engish fry up and it was used by Gilbert and George every day, in fact the first time I went in there I thought i was seeing things as one of them ( dont know the diff ) was doing the washing up and the other was serving punters.
Sadly gone the way of many city landmarks.
Originally posted by Spud Murphy III
There is also a London Cafe off Newington Green. It's clean and tidy inside, popular with workmen.....! Bloody hell, Spud - you don't mess about when it comes to cafés! :)
I'm currently enjoying the sea and (hazy) sun of St Ives, but I'll be sure to include your updates when I get chance to add more cafés to the page.
Cheers!
Mike
corporate whore
27-03-2003, 17:10
I bow to Spud's superior caff knowledge, but would like to big up, as t'were, Cafe Prov in both Herne Hill and Camberwell as somewhere you'd like to spend most of the day, if only for the quality of tunes. Bit on the pricy side, mond, but their weekend breakfast is a thinkg of rare beauty.
Also the Blue Brick cafe (I think), a tiny place down a side street off Lordship Lane in East Dulwich and the Railway Cafe (again, could be mistaken) which is, oddly, next to Tulse Hill railway station. Both serve decent fry-ups at reasonable prices.
i haven' got any adresses within reach but burn to share. i think london is not superb for cafes but if you look out for them there are still a few good ones around. my favourites (on the really amazing level) are as follows.
the 1101 just off bricklane is a trendy spacious (so usually still packed) cafe with amazing cakes and everything else you need in a great cafe. its location just around the corner from spitalfield market and next to bars, clubs and restaurants makes it a perfect place to hang around in during an eastend type of day. there is also often a dj playing music on weekends. go there if you need to be inspired about the latest londen fashion styles too!
the ICA cafe is also an excellent species of its kind. it is easy to spend hours in there and superb to combine with a bit of contemporary culture. downside is you have to purchase a day membership to get in there.
the brixton lido cafe. it is actually my top secret cafe so i will not say much more...the lounge cafe comes second favourit and the wine bar cafe (herne hill) third.
Originally posted by Spud Murphy III
The best in that area is Alpino on Chapel Market. It's worth a look just to check out the 1930s decor.
Abso-fucking-lutely.
Originally posted by Spud Murphy III
Camden: the New Goodfare restaurant on Parkway is the best. Family-run, the capo di capo here is about 60 but dyes his hair black and wears plenty of medallions. Other cafe owners know him well - he is a 'character'.
buy my lunch there when I'm working up that way - that dyed rug is the business.
'I'll see you in the cafe'
'Which one?'
'The one with the dyed syrup bloke'
'oh, ok'
His brother (balding Francis Truffaut lookalike) is a really nice bloke. His daughter is rather stern looking but all the more beautiful for it. They work their arses off in that place so give them your business when you're in Camden!
Mr Retro
28-03-2003, 11:24
Not exactly a cafe but no guide is complete without a mention of the Brick Lane Bagel shop. Delicious proper bagels the most expensive is smoked salmon (loads of) + cream cheese at £1.90. A cheese bagel is only 30p. A dozen to take away costs £1.44.
There are loads of yummy cakes including proper apple strudel and other breads and buns all very cheap.
The Jewish have the best food in the world imo
hammerntongues
28-03-2003, 11:30
Originally posted by Mr Retro
Not exactly a cafe but no guide is complete without a mention of the Brick Lane Bagel shop. Delicious proper bagels the most expensive is smoked salmon (loads of) + cream cheese at £1.90. A cheese bagel is only 30p. A dozen to take away costs £1.44.
There are loads of yummy cakes including proper apple strudel and other breads and buns all very cheap.
The Jewish have the best food in the world imo
Good call ,a 24 hr heaven ,join the back of a 10 person queue at 4 am behind Dinner suits and ballgowns,Trannies,clubbers,prostitutes,cabbies,winos,its like the cast of a Fellini film and do they taste good .
Afew others in Islington..
Rheidol Rooms, St Peter's Street. - Pretty upmarket as greasy spoons go, and tends to attract the Islingtonian 'in-crowd'.
Cross Cafe, Cross Street - friendly service, relaxed
Fosby's Cafe, Chapel Market. - Very busy market cafe, also serves Fillipino & Chinese food.
Polly's
55 South End Road
London NW3
just over the road from Hampstead Heath station on the North London Line, is well worth a visit.
Food is excellent and varied from all day fried breakfast to salads, not a greasy spoon but nor does it seem to attract pretentious twats, very relaxed old fashioned atmosphere, lots of wood, polite friendly staff, obvious trouble taken to prepare food well, coffee/tea of very good quality, prices very reasonable considering the quality of dishes. Plenty of room between tables.
Situated within a street of useful varied small shops. Hampstead Heath is across the road, Keats House and Keats public library are around the corner. Erno Goldfingers 1930's modernist house is 5 mins walk away.
agricola
28-03-2003, 17:05
theres also an excellent bagel/pastry shop on Stoke Newington High Street at the junction with Evering Road...
the Royal Cafe on the corner of Exmouth market is my very favourite. quite small but all seats good for watching stalls blow over in the wind etc.
the veggie breakfasts are huge and better than anywhere else. good prices. staff leave you alone, play radio, read papers. chill out, no pretensions. love it :)
missing twin
29-03-2003, 15:12
a lovely, reasonably priced and relaxed Turkish cafe in Camberwell, Tadims. (Camberwell Church Street) Muralled wall, everything from great coffee to borag (sp?) to meze to kebab. A meal and drink sets you back about a fiver or just over. And its always open!
Also, Seymour Brothers (next door to Hermits Cave). Breakfasts of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs - or you can just take cornflakes ;) very relaxed, little garden out the back, and great pizzas from Wednesdays to Saturday evenings.
camberwell, camberwell, camberwell :rolleyes:
Razoredge
30-03-2003, 14:45
Oh no missing twin! Don't tell everyone about Tadims or it will fill up with North Londoners and us local won't be able to get a seat.:p Seriously - I totally agree. Pleasant atmosphere, good food and reasonable prices - iand you can stay as long as you like over a meal without any hassle. Another similar place, but Middle Eastern rather than Turkish, is Gaby's in the Charing Cross Road. It does great Lebanese food including a lot of vegetarian specialities for very reasonable prices given its location. Compared with the other eating establishments in the area its amazingly good value.
past caring
31-03-2003, 16:41
Seymour Bros is ok just as long as you don't try the veggie burgers-pre-cooked then re-heated in the microwave and consequently tough as old shoe leather.
Locals might also like to try The Walworth Road cafe, the green fronted one near the post office on the road of the same name...not a huge amount of veggie selection, but clean, Italian run and Marie (pronounce Mahrie) does a blinding esspresso.
A bit further afield is the original Heather's Cafe, not the veggie delight (now defunct) in Deptford, but it's parent, run by the original Heather in New X, on Trundley's Road. Excellent fry-ups, (including veggie sausages), garden in the Summer, fresh pasta, very friendly...all round excellent.
montevideo
01-04-2003, 10:10
There's also a weird-looking one run by an irish bloke - name eludes me right now - but the front of it looks like an old wooden shack
This sounds like Alison's, although the outside has gone all posh now.
Best cafe in camden is by far Cafe Crescent (up near the top end of camden high st). Family run, & not as expensive as the new goodfare & nicer service. Don't think the new goodfare is technically a greasy spoon is it?
scarletwoman
01-04-2003, 18:58
The Amazon Cafe on Holloway road opposite the cinema and up a bit. Lovely in there, Free newspapers, family atmosphere (run by mother and daughter) and somtimes has a small art exhibit up on the walls. Local artists can sell through there. There is a tiny little garden out the back in the summer but it is cramped. If you going in gfor lunch you need to get there by 12 or there's no tables.
Psycadelic dream temple - chai cafe - in stables market in Camden.
If you're coming from the main entrance off Camden high road you head down to the end where cyberdog isand its on the right hand side, just past the railway arch.
if your a hippy or don't like cigarette smoke, there's a cafe above a record shop in Camden called 'psycadelic dream temple'. Its completely no smoking and ita decorated really nicely with a psycadelic-esque mural that covers the walls and celing. Its kitted out in the style of a morocan cafe with leather puffs (the seat, not homosexuals) and low tables. Theres also a bookstore selling occult and new age books up there too and the music is usualy a nice ambient affair. They're always friendly and they have a good range of teas. Food is minimal but pretty good.
regency cafe seconded - and it's only 10m from my front door! Another classic cafe i really liked was one I think was called valtarros in cartwright gardens, WC1. Filled with locals, workmen etc, and a hilarious owner - I think his name was tony (at least, thats what we called him!) and he was a passionate old bloke who'd bark orders at his poor wife (who had a bad leg and reminded me of the secretary in 'silly walks'). Anyone else know it? I suspect it may have been taken over by somebody else now though.
sam/phallocrat
02-04-2003, 11:27
The candid cafe I think will be my choice. It's part of the candid arts trust, a kind of artists collective (I think) and it's based in a building on torrens street, which is right behind Angel tube (right next to the electrowerks). You go up a few flights of stairs and find yerself in the ante-chamber (as it were) where you can get your hot drinks etc. The dining room is long and low, with a fucking massive table going down the middle and with sofas and low tables at the edges. It's always dimly lit with lots of cool art on the walls, is staffed by a random bunch of very friendly types and does lovely veggie food and cups of tea. It's a wicked place to chill if you're hanging around angel and don't wanna go t'pub.
saaam
Nico's. A Greek cafe, next to Bethnal Green tube.
Biggest portions of some of the best cafe food in London; their lamb kafado is rhapsodic. No, really...
These two should be in a cafe guide for this area.
Lisboa, Goldborne rd W10 - good honest tradtional Portugese cafe, been around forever and cheap as chips (which they dont sell here).
Cheap good coffee for well under a quid, lots of cheap cakes and other food for half the price of other cafes in the area
Oporto,Goldborne rd W10 across the rd another Portugese cafe aslo good cofee and cheap cakes and rolls
The Estrella Bar in South Lambeth Road (a few minutes walk south of Vauxhall tube) - another Portugese cafe open all day, good cheap food and beer, Portugese soccer on the telly in the corner. There's tons of genuine atmosphere - on a midweek night you can be the only non-Portugese person in there. You can sit out the front in the summer as well, which would be great if wasn't for all the bloody traffic...
There is only two that have stuck in my mind over the years. I have been to many. Not sure it counts as a cafe but the Brick Lane Bagle Shop does serve tea and is probably best shop in London for a quick snack of a Salf beef or Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese and nice bagles 24/7. The plain bagles are only 12p each and more than often so fresh they are warm. Interesting bagle shop fact: Its only shut once in the 23 or so years its been open, for the millenium. (Ungrateful gits ;) )
The other is up the road and its called Ginas cafe located at the Shorditch end of Bethnal Green Rd. It serves a man size plate of nicely cooked tasty food, in fairly plesant surroundings with comfy seats and frendly service. Approx about a fiver for a meal, unless you have steak. Its a cabbies fav in the area. The brek is well nice.
Oh and one final suprise, its got a bar and can serve you a pint with your breakfast if you want and its past 11:30am.
Sunray
http://classiccafes.co.uk/, " little gems of British vernacular high street design";)
corporate whore
09-04-2003, 12:26
that site roooooools!
:cool:
rutabowa
09-04-2003, 12:34
Just discovered: Don's Cafe, Lower Clapton Road, E5. Cheap cheap breakfasts (with Perfect fried eggs, better than i've seen anywhere else) served buy insanely happy whistling old man, with manic accordion music playing on stereo. Looks a bit like a derelict building on outside, but feels like a bit of a haven once in. I have eccentric taste in cafes tho.
Mrs Magpie
12-04-2003, 09:58
Cafe Nile, 294 Clapham Rd SW9
Turn right out of Stockwell Tube and it's less than a two minute walk in a small block of shops set back a liitle way from the road.
If I'm in Stockwell I always visit. Ethiopian owned, but don't expect Injera Zigeni or traditional food from the Horn of Africa, although it has quite an Ethiopian atmosphere. It's more of a modern sandwich bar with excellent fresh juices and a really good choice of coffees. It has seating outside too, is deservedly popular at lunchtimes, but quieter at other times. Highly recommended by the Magpie family.
missing twin
12-04-2003, 17:06
Originally posted by sam/phallocrat
The candid cafe I think will be my choice.
This is a wonderful place in terms of deco, atmosphere, staff and ambience. But the food can be quite a mixed bag. I've had lovely food there but more often mediocre, sometimes not even v nice food :(
But in every other way brilliant:D
chegrimandi
15-04-2003, 09:21
New River Cafe, just off green lanes by clissold park....very tasty bubble and squeak, very good fried brekkie, nice omellettes n all......:D
scarletwoman
15-04-2003, 12:48
Originally posted by scarletwoman
The Amazon Cafe on Holloway road opposite the cinema and up a bit. Lovely in there, Free newspapers, family atmosphere (run by mother and daughter) and somtimes has a small art exhibit up on the walls. Local artists can sell through there. There is a tiny little garden out the back in the summer but it is cramped. If you going in gfor lunch you need to get there by 12 or there's no tables.
Forgot to add, most of their food is homemade and they do BIG, FAT, HOMEMADE CHIPS!!!!!!!!!
YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM!
scarletwoman
15-04-2003, 12:48
Originally posted by scarletwoman
The Amazon Cafe on Holloway road opposite the cinema and up a bit. Lovely in there, Free newspapers, family atmosphere (run by mother and daughter) and somtimes has a small art exhibit up on the walls. Local artists can sell through there. There is a tiny little garden out the back in the summer but it is cramped. If you going in gfor lunch you need to get there by 12 or there's no tables.
Forgot to add, most of their food is homemade and they do BIG, FAT, HOMEMADE CHIPS!!!!!!!!!
YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM!
TinyCrendon
16-04-2003, 13:30
all your caffs so far are in the wrong bit of London. ;)
Adams Cafe - Askew Rd London W12 - very good indeed, also triffic Tunisian restaurant at night.
Fat Boyz - Uxbridge Rd, opposite Swainson Rd, W3. Also opposite Somerfields. Great food, lots of banter, magazines etc...Watford fan.
Farinas, Leather Lane, EC1. Proper old cafe smack bang in town, really good. Waitress service.
Churchfield Cafe, Churchfield Rd, Acton W3. Another great cafe bit further into Acton.
Zippys - Goldhawk Rd W12. Very old but refurbished cafe. Very good (Turkish) coffee, scrambled eggs not so good. Galatassaray fans.
maximilian ping
16-04-2003, 13:53
Sheperdess and Churchfield quality
but best one in london by far is Pelucci on bethnal green road.
beauty fry ups cooked by cockney italians, great crowded, can't move an inch, warm atmosphere, family run, waiters always giving it the large one with customers. plus amazing coffee and lunch stuff.
best thing tho is when they spot a traffic warden and tell all customers who run out and sit in their car for a bit.
oh yeh, and its got a fish tank
Bassment Jo deserves a mention in the cafe guide Ed , lovely peeps nice food , vibes n all.
Originally posted by adzp
Adams Cafe - Askew Rd London W12 - very good indeed, also triffic Tunisian restaurant at night.
Zippys - Goldhawk Rd W12. Very old but refurbished cafe. Very good (Turkish) coffee, scrambled eggs not so good. Galatassaray fans.
Adams Cafe is my local (I live just off the Askew Road) and I can say that it does have gorgeous fry ups, perfect for weekend breakfasts, all for the princely sum of £3.20 :) The Tunisian food at night is really good, a little more expensive though.
I haven't been into Zippys, is that the one with the brown-boarded front that looks very retro, quite close to Shepherds bush green? If so I'll check it out when I can :).
Originally posted by dum dum
Bassment Jo deserves a mention in the cafe guide Ed , lovely peeps nice food , vibes n all. You'll have to give me a little more info than that!
I need the address, what kind of food it serves and what's good about it...
vanityvehicle
22-04-2003, 00:43
Can't believe no one's mentioned E Pellicci!
'Tis on Bethnal Green Road, just east of the junction with Vallance Road. It's run by an old Italian cockney family, and opened in about 1900, and the current capo di tutti capi (good call :D ) is a 60-something bloke with a fine perm and a pencil moustache - he would have looked well dapper back in the day. The place is only about 20ft by 20ft square and you'll get crammed onto tables any which way, the walls are art deco wood-panelled and covered in photos of the Pelliccis with Babs Windsor, Patsy Palmer and other such east end slebs, and the food is good traditional home-cooked fare with a slightly Italian flavour. Atmosphere is fantastic, and they even have a bizarre aquarium with a vomiting Romanesque fountain in it.
Big up the Brick Lane Bagel Bake, and mention the fantastic apple strudels which are about 25p each. Also one of the few places in London you can get decent black bread. Evering bakery next door is, for the most part, not as good, but if there's a bit of a queue at the Bagel Bake their cream cheese and salad bagels are nicer to be honest.
Cafe 1001 is good, and despite its potential wankiness it just has a good atmosphere. And they do good pasteis de natas, which is pretty damn important I reckon.
Don't know much outside east London. There used to be a couple of wonderful places in Soho (some vegetarian restaurant right next to Liberty's springs to mind) but I think they're mostly closed down now.
edited to shrink Pellicci's
maximilian ping
22-04-2003, 07:14
vv
i did mention pellicci a couple of posts above, but called it pellucci. but it's the best in london n'est pas?
ps. i've fallen in love with an aussie girl. damn
vanityvehicle
22-04-2003, 07:18
Begosh Max, that you did.
Tis a great place, as I said.
Why you no call me back when I coming down to Melbourne?
BTW, I could be heading in the same direction re: Aussie girls. Or one of em.
gaufonze
28-04-2003, 16:55
The Red Cafe, Portobello Road.
Well actually it's located just south of the West Way, 20 metres off Portobello in a square on Tavistock Road.
Red has only been open a few weeks but is definitely worth a visit.
Simple decor, nice coffee, friendly owner / staff.
Food is fairly simple - I just had a baguette of Turkish meatballs (yum yum yum!). Veggie friend of mine said selection was acceptable, and good quality.
Gau
Mrs Magpie
02-05-2003, 16:34
The Astral, on the corner of Maunsell St and Rutherford St, SW1 (Just off Horseferry Rd).
Truly an excellent cafe. The pasta is home-made, as in fresh pasta and the rest is honest-to-goodness caff grub. The steak pie is home-made, and sadly, not a patch on the Phoenix in Brixton (the best pastry I have ever tasted), but heaps better than mass-produced pies.
Deservedly well-loved by cabbies, and a very convenient distance from the Royal Oak (a Youngs pub) on Rutherford St.
Originally posted by Mrs Magpie
[B]The Astral, on the corner of Maunsell St and Rutherford St, SW1 (Just off Horseferry Rd).
That's literally 20m from my front door, and in 2 yrs i've sadly never been in....that's first on my list for tomorrow morning then!!
Cheers for the recommendation
Crazy_diamond
12-05-2003, 14:05
Hello all:cool:
I just had a quick look at the posts here and didn't see Cafe Cairo on Clapham / Brixton boarder listed, it is in Landor Rd (if you come out of Clapham North station; Landor Rd is on your right, there is a Pub on one corner and a shop on the other, unless you come out backwards then its on your left;) ) it is 5 minutes walk from the station.
It is an Egyptian coffee shop and is really cool, down stairs there is a room; very dark and loud music and upstairs at the back it is as if you are sitting in a very colourful tent :D
Good food good drink and lots of chatty people. Give it a go!
<//////////////////////////////////////@ ~~~~~~~~~
Sorry: humungous image removed - Spud
THE PREMISES
Music Studios & Cafe
201-205 Hackney Rd. London E2 8JL
TEL: 0207 729 7593
www.premises.demon.co.uk
This is my favourite cafe in London.
Fabulous breakfasts, luscious bacon sarnies, free newspapers, cheerful staff and the chance of bumping or listening in to whichever band happens to be recording in the studio downstairs.
The numerous signed photos on the walls also provide interesting reading if the daily news is just too much.
Funnily enough, I always remember it being sunny when I'm in there, even when I know I dashed in to get out of the rain.
:)
Dolce's on Whitecross St, off Old St EC1 is cool. Nice staff, quick service when they're not too busy! and make the best ciabattas/panini/foccaccia etc. in central london ;)
The Black Hand
21-05-2003, 10:44
Got to add to what RUA said above - the Premises is one of my homes from home.
Originally posted by Spud Murphy III
Kings Cross: two good cafes have been lost here recently: the Railway (underneath St Pancras Station) and Bar Uno, formerly the Beehive, formerly the A1. The old lady, Maria, who ran it has now retired.
Sorry to hear about the Beeehive going. I used to know it well, as I lived round the corner from there one summer. It was the kind of place where you could turn up after not having been in for years and they'd greet you immediately.
A lot of caffs I used to know have closed. Are there fewer caffs around now than there used to be, or do they simply come and go, with new ones starting up as others close?
Spud Murphy III
28-05-2003, 16:42
There are fewer caffs in London now than there used to be, especially in Central London.
I have a book called the 'Good Cafe Guide' published in 1981, which lists around 120 caffs in and around Central London. From a sample of around 40, I found that less than half still survive as independent concerns.
There was recent Euromonitor market research report published about this, quoted on the radio (thanks hatboy). They found that around 1 in 9 traditional-style caffs had closed for good in the UK over the last 5 years.
Competition has come from fast-food outlets, sandwich bars, and 'ready meals'. Changes in the nature of the workforce will have had an impact too.
Caffs in city centre areas have also faced extortionate rent rises from commercial property landlords, who are often keen to force out the small family-run concern to make room for a corporate tenant, thereby increasing the value of their property portfolios.
Two places: if it's still there, the wonderful "Cha Bar" in Bloomsbury, near Kings X end: the best Lond-indian teas and sandwiches ever!
And not strictly speaking a cafe but more of a sandwich place (you can see what I like ;-) is City Snacks, on Theobald's Road, Holborn. Watch out for the father & sons banter :-)
Louloubelle
02-06-2003, 17:43
My fave smoke free cafes:
Bean 'n' Cup Cafe
104 Camden High Street (NW1) tel 020 7267 7340
Very clean and friendly family run café 100% smoke free. The smaller seating area at the entrance to the cafe is bright but rather formal and is often frequented by older Camden locals. There is a lovely much larger area to the rear of the café with massive comfy sofas that attracts a cosmopolitan, media savvy clientele. The cafe serves excellent coffee, a range of soft drinks, herbal teas, sandwiches and nice cakes at reasonable prices.
First Out
52 St Giles' High Street (WC2) tel 020 7240 8042
First Out has a non-smoking café upstairs and a smoky café downstairs. Their welcoming and friendly staff serve wonderful veggie meals, cakes and drinks. Very community orientated and a great place for women on their own to meet without being hassled.
Psychedelic Dream Temple
Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road
Camden Town (NW1) tel 020 7267 5828
New Agey CD/record and bookshop in the heart of Camden Market. Upstairs (no disabled access) is an exquisitely decorated 100% smoke free Middle Eastern style café serving organic smoothies, herbal teas, coffee and a selection of Arabic teas (beautifully served in traditional silver pots and gold decorated glasses) as well as a range of vegan and veggie cakes and Middle Eastern pastries. The seating consists of sofas covered with oriental rugs and the tables are intricately carved in oriental style. The sofas near the window are the best, as from them you can enjoy the ambience of the cafe while watching the crowds pass by on the cobbled paving below. Music policy ambient / middle eastern / world music 11am- 4pm and then trance / acid trance after 4.
7 days, 11am - 6.30pm.
longer list of smoke free cafes availble on request. :)
ideocentric
03-06-2003, 16:21
The Stingray Cafe in Highbury Barn
It's called a cafe although the standards are much higher than I would consider a cafe to be. It has a very cosy and intimate atmosphere with candles lit in the evening.
Their food is mostly Italian ... With a limited but very tasty menu. I particularly enjoyed the Spinach and Mushroom Risotto.
They also serve excellent coffees, fruit juice combinations and alcohol.
Although on our last visit Yossarian felt like jumping over the counter, grabbing the waitress by her apron and forcing her to change the music....Phil Collins 'Greatest Hits' was playing on a loop. :D :D
Paulie Tandoori
05-06-2003, 14:11
Best for Cheese and Mushroom omlette, chips and baked beans without a shadow of a doubt - Leo's Cafe on Stokie High St, the one opposite the end of Church St (altho the one near Dalston is good as well), once you've been spotted in their more than twice, they throw your tea in for free (don't tell 'em i told ya).
Best for fulsome veggie selection - Bodrum Cafe, Stokie High St, does 6 (SIX!!!!) set veggie breakfasts, plus Turkish brekkies and a wide variety of decent scran, newspapers, few types but if you go in the week, you can avoid them.
Best RIP cafe - Quality Cafe at the bottom of Wells Street, Homerton used to be superb grub and nice people but then we spotted a cockroach and stopped going.
Also worthy of mention are Rosa's Cafe on a road off Commercial St, towards Brick Lane at the North East side of Spitalfields market, good cheap food and good service and if you can't get a seat, there's another cafe 2 doors up, result:)
GushingRussian
06-06-2003, 10:01
Raffles Cafe and Diner, Craven Road W2.
Possibly the cheapest in Bayswater (£2.80 for a full English). The food is good too.
Blue River Cafe King's Cross Northdown Street.
Clean friendly reasonably priced.
The real selling point is that if you are with people who like a drink then you can go and get a pint in the pub across the road and have your meal served in the boozer.
Only open till about 5 pm and shut at weekends but if your in King's Cross on a weekday it's a place worth checking out.
It has tables outside for those wishing to enjoy the weather and watching the world go by.
Check out H's in Rotherhithe...anyone know it? It's on Moodkee St by the Albion boozer. You'd think there'd be weird happenings on Moodkee but there aint.
The owner (H obviously) looks like Gianluca Vialli and funnily enough used to be a Turkish professional footballer. The Grub is top drawer and massive portions..take a refibulator (or whatever those heart massge/exploders are bloody called).
It's like stepping back to 1968..everything in there is old but looked after. There's a bloke working there called Remi who once saw me coming out of the bookies and is convinced I'm a gambler. he has a Bobby Ball perm which he keeps under a hairnet to avoid tangling with the hash browns.
The slogan on the ouutside says "Where you know you've had a sandwich"..this is hilarious as H doesn't do sarnies. He fears the sarnie. grease only.
Another one is Kens Caff in Green Street Upton pk, right next to the beautiful West Ham United Boleyn ground. Pics of Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds et al..look down at yer bubble with envy. Carol does the shouting "Number 65, eggs, chips, bacon, 2 slices" and all that. You get a bingo ticket for that bit. Once saw David Essex in there which freaked me right out cos he used to go out with my Mum. AND NO - I haven't got curly bloody hair..
Originally posted by Batfink
Once saw David Essex in there which freaked me right out cos he used to go out with my Mum. AND NO - I haven't got curly bloody hair..
Are you sure Ringo is not your Father. :p
...you been watching that film haven't you..whatever it's called..Keef Moon was in it too. It's really funny when Essex is on the telly..my Mum goes red and really really stares at the screen and my Old Man gets the hump and starts looking over his paper for the remote.
This is nothing - my mate Simon is Ian"Lovejoy" McShane's cousin and Tony Adams chased me round school, held me down, and wrote c*** across my forehead. I've gone way off the thread here. Might start one up on this sort of vein.."Abuse you've taken at the hands of the famous".
Hopefully no-one will tell us about their troubles with Jimmy Saville.
Govinda's vegetarian restaurant on Soho Street near Soho Square is a good cafe. They do a huge range of resonably priced vegetarian meals. The cafe is run by the Hare Krishnas.
Halcyon...
I agree..it is really good but do you remember when it used to be a lot better? Bit cheaper/larger portions..still can't complain as it's top notch still. There used to be another veggie Indian cafe round the corner from there called the Mandeer..Hanway St.. that was the best one in Central London I reckon.
scooter_uk
15-07-2003, 12:53
Frank's Cafe, Commercial Road opposite Limehouse tube station(bit far out for most I know :p )
2 great all rounders with 2 rounds of bread & butter & 4 cups of sweet tea about £7.50 - quality!
Also Benjy's on Earl's Court Road, nr. tube - big rave reviews in that Aussie mag and other sources but not nearly greasy enough! Lovely Eastern Bloc girls working there and food cheap & good when I went in.....v. flirtly even when you got horrid hangover red eyes :D
All good
Scoot
The Toads Mouth Too in Brockley Road, SE4.
Beautiful cafe not long opened, they have local artists and photographers work on display for sale and a great garden area. They have just been granted a booze license and I believe have live music on occassionally too. Well worth a visit. Oh and food and coffee too!
has anyone mentioned the copper kettle on or near liverpool st?
nice,clean,efficiently fast,looks like it aint changed since the sixties
H:)
I like Coffee @ Brick Lane, even if just for the fact that I once went in their on a Sunday morning and they were playing Warp records stuff...
Good for the obligatory soya-lattes as well.
</veganyuppiefuck>
Spud Murphy III
06-08-2003, 09:44
Sounds like Brick Lane's well snookered. :rolleyes:
Spud Murphy III
06-08-2003, 09:46
jhazard: I have observed the Toad's Mouth Too, although have not been in. Those preferring more of a traditional cafe that serves hot food should go to the Central Cafe, on the other side of Brockley Road.
timebomb
07-08-2003, 22:22
Does Sutton count as London? Well anyway, 'Peckish' is just off the High St and I used to think it was ace. It's always full anyway.
sir_roughdiamond
09-08-2003, 23:11
Bar Bruno's in Wardour St - considering how all the other cafes around the old compton st area have gone all poncy its refreshing to find this place is still exactly the same as it was 20 odd years ago.
Originally posted by sir_roughdiamond
Bar Bruno's in Wardour St - considering how all the other cafes around the old compton st area have gone all poncy its refreshing to find this place is still exactly the same as it was 20 odd years ago.
It is where I learnt to eat spagetti, with just a fork, in the mid-eighties. Is it still run by the same family? I might have to take a trip down memory lane.:cool:
Glad that some things remain the same.:)
sir_roughdiamond
10-08-2003, 12:37
Bruno sold it last year to another italian chap from the same mould - some of his original staff have stayed on so its still pretty much the same as it ever was.
At the other end of the spectrum what about Sorrento cafe in West Norwood up near the woolworths? Another italian cafe run by a family who have only ever been involved in catering since coming to the Uk all those years ago...
Originally posted by Epona
Best greasy spoon in London - Regency Cafe - corner of Regency Street and Page Street, SW1.
It's a proper old-style formica counters job with a nice atmosphere, great grub, and cheap - a huge plate of food and a mug of tea for around £4.
i work around the corner from there now, it is a top quality spooner...
although i haven't been there for a week or so, it would be way too hot in there at the mo...
sir_roughdiamond
11-08-2003, 19:53
Also - proper grease pit - Castle snack bar near opposite old fire station just off from Old St roundabout (next to some comprehensive school). Ripped stools, formica counters, italian geezer selling the best sausage sandwiches if you are into that sort of thing.
If you find yourself in more swanky part of town how about Sergio's in Eagle Place between Picadilly and Jermyn St just along from Fortnums?
Or if you find yourself wandering around near Harrods you could always try Mimas/Knightsbridge Express which are on Knighstrbridge Green (an alley round the back of the old Harrods underground stores on the other side of the road from the main shop entrance).
Apols if you aint into italian cafes - all my suggestions are places I got to know over the years from social visits etc
(btw has no one mentioned Manzi's Pie and mash in bermondsey yet? My mates really rate it but as a veggie it seemed pretty pointless me going there with them at lunchtime)
the amount of knowledge on this thread is phenomenal! thanks people! anyone want to do quick meet ups in the cafes? it might be a way to get me up to stoke new etc..i want to check out the veggie turkish breakfasts..more info on those please :0)
my 2p....im always on the lookout for cheap VEGGIE food in the charing cross/tottenham court rd/holborn areas..!
i often find myself meeting freinds there and HUNGRY!
always go to the SAME places again and again..
doesnt have to be all veggie just some veggie options..!
i like places with BIG portions, ms bearbot needs strength to keep exploiting the benefits system/moaning about the world/and to try to erm "create" on......
the vegan chinese/thai buffet places (all u can eat for £5 before 5pm £6 after) on greek st and st martins lane have been mentioned..BEST VALUE if u are passin out from hunger.
on old compton st..MAOUZ falafel (just past paradiso fetish shop)
is good cos it is serve yrself salad bar and you can go up MANY times..get the basic falafel in pitta bread at £3 and stuff with salad/sauces..eat a bit repeat eat a bit repeat....coffee at 50p in there too!
ive not eaten much eles in the old compton area cos i fear the dreaded small portions! any ideas..?
havent been to pollo in awhile..heard they are giving stingy portions now :p
in the holborn area do yrself a favour and try
the airy sedate....
mary ward centre in queen sq WC1
this is a cheap veggie place run by italian people
in an adult education centre..open til about 8pm
only £3.50 for dish of the day pretty decent portions.
mary ward centre has all sorts of cheap, interesting courses worth checkin out esp if u are on benefits! u will pay a bomb for some of the yoga/tai chi they offer eleswhere....they do a huge range there..go pick up the booklet!
waterloowelshy
25-09-2003, 12:06
The Coral cafe on Lower Marsh in Waterloo.
Its great for an all day fry up without the fat - really chilled and a place you can sit and read the papers to your hearts content for as long as you feel like - plus you can take your own wine in with you if you want to get pissed - though not sure how that would taste with a fry up!:eek:
There is this new cafe on Bethnal Green Rd nr Brick lane. It sells Turkish pizza. Its brand new and I think they were struggling to finish off the shop because its a little rough and ready in there but center piece is their real wood fired oven.
All the pide's (think thats what they call them) are 4.50 eat in or 3.50 take away. Had a take away the other day.
Rather LOVELY I must say. Highly recommended.
<goes off to get another>
Sunray
the amount of knowledge on this thread is phenomenal! thanks people! anyone want to do quick meet ups in the cafes? it might be a way to get me up to stoke new etc..i want to check out the veggie turkish breakfasts..more info on those please :0)
I can be found in "the new river cafe" stokey church st (green lanes end), most mornings weekdays, ('bout 8ish), I believe it is run by Turkish peeps (whatever nationality, they're very friendly), and they do Veg brekies.
Their (meat)sausages aint all that, but their special breakfast does the job on a cold morn:D
thanks for the specific info toka!
i live in south london but sometimes i stay over with freinds in stokey so....next time if i can rouse myself out of a warm bed i will definately check this place out:D
KnickerlessCage
29-10-2003, 21:14
has anyone been to this well cheap cafe in streatham (forgotten what its called now) but its kinda near the wetherspoons on streatham high road. well anyway its a family run business but the best thing about it is the price. breakfasts cost 99p. its a proper cafe, not a fast food type thing.
for food amount and general yum factor i also recommend pete's cafe on brixton hill, so big up to someone who mentioned it earlier!!!:D :)
KnickerlessCage
06-11-2003, 17:32
I know i've already mentioned 2 cafes but there is another fav of mine that i missed out. has anyone been to the cafe st.germain, opp the bus stn in crystal palace? it has pavement cafe seating. well anyway they're food is superb and you also get v. large glasses of wine. bit more pricey than the other 2 places i mentioned tho.:D
Originally posted by KnickerlessCage
has anyone been to this well cheap cafe in streatham (forgotten what its called now) but its kinda near the wetherspoons on streatham high road. well anyway its a family run business but the best thing about it is the price. breakfasts cost 99p. its a proper cafe, not a fast food type thing.
for food amount and general yum factor i also recommend pete's cafe on brixton hill, so big up to someone who mentioned it earlier!!!:D :)
Yeah I've been there basic but good food. I do believe I had 2 one after the other it had to be done given that they were so cheap :D
How you doing by the way Knickerless cage? I saw the photo from the firework night your'e looking swell;)
ScallyWag II
09-11-2003, 17:04
I recently went to the S & M cafe, 4-6 Essex Road not far from Angel tube. S & M meaning sausage and mash. You get a large choice of sausages (veggie and meat ones), plus a choice of mash and gravys. They also do pudding if you can manage one. Cheap as well. A big meal for around £5, plus they are licensed, so you can have beer or wine if you want. Not sure if you can bring your own though.
£4 for all day breakfast not a good option though. I don't eat this but I've seen cheaper in the West End. But it's not bad for your tea! :cool:
jdaviescoates
18-11-2003, 21:07
Haven't read through all 5 pages of recommendation, so these might have been mentioned before...
Candid Arts Cafe (Islington, behind Angel tube next to Electowerks - very nice atmosphere and good veg food (a little pricey though). Could easily spend hours there reading the papers. Good one for dates, so I hear.
Food for Thought (Covent Garden) - Excellent veg food, with great value large portions. Always busy. My mate is the head chef, so I often get to eat for free :) (don't but tell the owner)
Cafe Kick (Exmouth Market) - because the staff treat customers like friends, the bottled beer is only £1.50 4-7pm daily, they have table football (which I like), and it's on one of my favourite streets.
Peace,
Josef.
Nicky's cafe, well street, near the junction of mare street in hackney, run by a football mad greek fellah, does it basic, and does the basics well...good fyr ups, nice sarnies and an exellent cup of tea....i'm working close by now so i often have my lunch there...:D
XerxesVargas
02-12-2003, 12:22
Theres an excellent one in Finsbury Park. Its on Crouch Hill, just up past the Old Dairy, on the same side. I cant remember its name, but its just 3 or 4 doors past the Dairy. Great fry up, not too greasy and fantastic bubble.
nightowl
09-12-2003, 13:06
Not really a cafe, although it has a small seating area, but Aunties Bakery in Green Street (off Upton Park tube) does fantastic salt fish rotis and coco breads and some pretty good spicy chicken wings and fish. just opposite Green Street market which is well worth a brouse
Biscuit Tin
10-12-2003, 17:16
Originally posted by chieftain
The Mess Cafe in Amhurst road Hackney is the best cafe in Hackney by miles, really nice grub with chilled music and free papers to boot.
I agree, and it's not too pricey either.
Streathamite
16-01-2004, 09:29
I haven't been here yet but as St Agnes Place seems to be in the news I thought I'd post this,
Cut from their site:
There will be a screening event in the cafe, no. 60 St Agnes Place tomorrow night Saturday 25th October from 8pm for 9pm.......Free inny
Films will include........
BILSTON GLEN 2003
Since the 12th of June 2002 Bilston Glen has been occupied & fortified by an ever expanding group of environmental activists. Bilston Glen is a SSSI and faces having a bypass ripped through it. The cost of the road is being funded by multinationals by sainsburys, ikea, costco, kwicksave and vivisection gm giants PPL therapeutics
ST. AGNES the film
a work in progress documenting the history of the street and highlighting homelessness in London
LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
This inspiring, moving and at times hilarious feature length documentary presents the inside story of the NO M11 Campaign, and featuring the battle for Wanstead's George Green, the Wanstonia eviction and the celebrated roof top protests of 1994. Against the backdrop of growing resistance to the Criminal Justice Act, their video charts the emergence of Claremont Road as an extraordinary symbol of cultural defiance and relieves what became the most expensive eviction in British history. The video features the music of: Zion Train, The Clash and the Levellers.
if this is in the wrong place I'm sure the Moderators will move it, thank you
errr...don't you think some idea of broad london vicinity might possibly enhance this post? :confused:
Streathamite
20-01-2004, 11:34
Well as St Agnes was all over the boards at the time and I'd guess most people who were interested and able to attend would know where St Agnes is, and yes it is an oversight not to have added the web address.
But as the event in my post was 3 months ago, I'm surprised you have mentioned it now; but as you have let me take this opportunity to tell you that this is their website address, http://www.stagnesplace.org/index.php and also point you in the direction of this thread; http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=64908
Also there is a cafe open now at 60 St Agnes Place and if you are in the area Pop in and say hello, I'm sure that your interest and support will be welcome Red Jezza, when will you be visiting?
BuzzSW9 (dave)
Moderators: As this is a "sticky" and not a general chat thread please feel free to remove this post and my post about the event last October that Red Jezza is referring to so as not to divert this thread and its purpose.
cheers Buzz, all v useful and enlightening, I stand updated :) Kennington a trek for me, but may well toddle on down soon.
Had a quick scroll through thread.
Also the Jasmine Cafe in Castlehaven Rd NW1(near the market).A cafe run by a nice Thai family.They used to be in Greek st in Soho but could not afford the rent anymore.For reasons outlined by Spud Murphy 111 earlier.
They are cheap and do normal cafe food as well as Thai food.They are friendly-well he is his wife is quiet and stays in the background.Its worth a visit.
I believe he told me they are open on weekends now as well.
My other usual is "Brunos" in Soho on the corner of Wardour st and Peter st.Under new owners but still Italian.One of the few cafes in Soho not turned into a Pret a Mange.
Ive got a few more but need to check their addresses.
Are any of these posts listed up on U75 guide now?
Cafe Plaka in Kings Cross is rather lovely albeit expensive. Mediteranian Cafe in Russel Square is nice and is relatively cheap. Brie and Tomato baguette for £2. :)
salaryman
09-04-2004, 10:26
Some West End delights...
Epocha, St. Martin's Lane. Bloody marvellous coffee.
Apostrophe in St. Christopher's Place. Expensive but lovely.
Others...
Cafe Delancey, Camden.
There's also a brilliant place, the name of which I can't remember, behind Angel tube on the minging Torrens Street. You go up some dodgy looking stairs into a "nu-boho" hangout with excellent coffee.
Checked out the 99p breakfast in Streatham once when I was realy skint ...have to say it wasn't up to much.
There's a wicked caff oposite SouthBank Uni on Wandsworth Rd...cant remember the name but it's Spanish run and does the best Fry-up and Mushrooms in South London..
...There's also a good'un in westminster, next to the fire station...looks a bit poncey but you get a huge good quality full english for about 3.50.
Shit...I'm feeling hungry.
rutabowa
03-06-2004, 12:55
Had a quick scroll through thread.
Also the Jasmine Cafe in Castlehaven Rd NW1(near the market).A cafe run by a nice Thai family.They used to be in Greek st in Soho but could not afford the rent anymore.For reasons outlined by Spud Murphy 111 earlier.
They are cheap and do normal cafe food as well as Thai food.They are friendly-well he is his wife is quiet and stays in the background.Its worth a visit.
Yes, it's lovely there. I think they do the best coffe in London... am there most every Saturday.
chegrimandi
03-06-2004, 13:06
I can be found in "the new river cafe" stokey church st (green lanes end), most mornings weekdays, ('bout 8ish), I believe it is run by Turkish peeps (whatever nationality, they're very friendly), and they do Veg brekies.
Their (meat)sausages aint all that, but their special breakfast does the job on a cold morn:D
toka our paths must have met, new river caff is top, just round the corner from me! I'm in there mostly on weekends normally number 2 for me with the bubble and squeak....
:D
top caff and the service is very good, efficient and friendly
Trojan Warrior
09-06-2004, 14:49
I'd like to recommened two cafes, one named NECO'S at Bethnal Green just outside the tube station because if you ever ask for a mixed grill be it meat or the alternative veggie mixed grill they ask you if it's your birthday due to the size of it when it comes to your table (you'd need two of you to complete it and still need a doggie bag)
The second is the cafe on Finsbury Park, friendly staff, good value for money, great place to use in the summer months, plenty of space for the children to play in and a great boating lake.
Trojan
charlie mowbray
23-07-2004, 12:20
Both the Copper Grill and the Piccolo in Liverpool Street closed last month- due to "redevelopment" :mad: And when I walked past the Tea Rooms off New Oxford Street the interior was gutted- looks like they too have bitten the dust! :( It also seems that the New Piccadilly is not long for this world! Also a couple of fine old caffs by Clerkenwell Green have vanished.
These cafes , mostly run by Italian families and with wonderful decor from the 50s and 60s are a doomed species. They were part of what made London, London and like the Routemasters, they are vanishing. Instead we have Costa Packets, Cafe Republics, and all the other soulless chains wherever we look. I walked down the Tottenham Court Road from the top at Warren Street Station as far as Centre Point the other day and not a family-run caff could I find :(
charlie mowbray
23-07-2004, 12:59
Not to mention the recent deaths of the Rendez-Vous (Maddox Street) Parma (Seymour Place) Euro Snack Bar (Piccadilly) Shame there's not a face "Smilie" with tears running out of its eyes!!!!
Streathamite
04-08-2004, 12:34
dunno if this one's already been done, but - I recommend - thoroughly - the People's Choice caff in Clerkenwell. cheap, tasty stews, curry, chili etc, good sarnies, pleasant staff and f-ing good value considering it's clerkenwell. you'll find it in Aldersgate St. 20 yards down from the x-rds of Old St and Clerkenwell rd
Biscuit Tin
07-08-2004, 01:12
I'd like to recommened two cafes, one named NECO'S at Bethnal Green just outside the tube station because if you ever ask for a mixed grill be it meat or the alternative veggie mixed grill they ask you if it's your birthday due to the size of it when it comes to your table (you'd need two of you to complete it and still need a doggie bag)
The second is the cafe on Finsbury Park, friendly staff, good value for money, great place to use in the summer months, plenty of space for the children to play in and a great boating lake.
Trojan
Don't know the Bethnal Green cafe but agree with what you say about the Finsbury Park cafe.
stillill
27-08-2004, 14:13
SimSim on Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park. Lovely bacon.
the spring cafe on stroud green road (n4, 2 mins up from finsbury park tube) is a fab little greasy spoon cafe, always v.friendly, nice and cheap too. and dino's grill on commercial street (e1) is ace - big menu, great food. you can't go wrong with wood panel effect wallpaper IMO :D
Candid Cafe (near Angel tube station) and it's above the Candid arts
centre.
Roxy641 :)
P.S. This is my FIRST EVER POST. This site was recommanded to me by a guy in London.
Maggies Cafe in Lewisham Road, Lewisham (right by the railway bridge).
Fast, friendly service. One woman (Maggie?) constantly going round filling up customers cups with tea and coffee. Watch out, they sometimes play jokes on you too! Is also a restaurant.
The Van Gogh cafe on Brixton rd,the Oval end is good. It does good veggie and meat stuff and fair trade teas and coffee.
If you are up in town and can't afford Covent Garden prices then why not pop over to the LSE (Houghton Street/Portugal Street/Clare Market/and various surrounding streets - it is basically the whole corner where the south end of Kingsway meets the Aldwych). Nearest tubes are Holborn to the north, Temple to the south, Covent Garden to the west and Chancery Lane to the north east - all roughtly equidistant.
There are a whole bunch of cafés and bars there but I would recommend two in particular:
Wight's Bar
Very good quality and cheap 'greasy spoon' - only has a few seats (at the back) since it mostly does take-away sandwiches so you will probably have to share your table but you can get a mixed grill (all day breakfast thingy) for £3.50 Address: Houghton Street (few yards up on the left as you walk up from Aldwych).
Café Pepe
Has great fairtraded coffee and other organic/fairtraded food at very cheap prices - about 75p if I remember for a standard coffee, and maybe 85p for fairtrade. You can sit in there for hours and hours nursing one cup of coffee without anyone batting an eyelid - great place to read a newspaper. Incidentally the LSE student union shop (Houghton Street again - on the right as you walk up from Aldwych) will sell you a copy of The Guardian for 20p (the student discount price - no student ID needed). Café Pepe Address: 3rd floor of Clement House, Aldwych - a few doors west of the Royal Courts of Justice.
The only caveat about these places is that lunchtime is *very* busy when all the students go for lunch.
Cafe Delight by Clapham North tube - I started going there in '96 and drop in whenever I'm passing by. Number 3 with tea and Extra Mushrooms.
Just the basics.
ska invita
15-11-2004, 02:28
Two killer South Lonodon cafes for you:
That veggie cafe on Clapham Common called Cicero's, aka Café on the Common.
In summer you can sit outside, but its very cosy in winter- really good veggie food, badass soup, good salads, nice staff...then after you can have a stroll round the duck pond, or a quick go on the half-pipe (yeah right).
Second, is a secret little cafe in Burgess Park: "CHUMLEIGH GARDENS CAFE", kind of near the start of the Aylesbury estate. Find all the groundsman buildings and gardens and walk in. Last door on the right is a public cafe. Pretty good food and drink, but what make this special is that it has its own beautiful garden (heaven in the summer) with blue tiled Islamic-style fountain, and nicely placed benches and tables all in their own little corners, under the shade of vines and trees and what-nots. The wardens have grown a special African and Caribbean Garden also.
At lunch time its full of healthworkers form the nearby medical centre, but other than then you can get the place to yourself. They now do jazz on sundays 1-3pm!
Streathamite
22-11-2004, 19:55
Barbican Grill, Whitecross Street, near the Barbican.
or-indeed-in its' REAL location, Aldersgate St. whitecross is approx 4 streets down
Sparkle84
26-11-2004, 19:46
Plum Café on Munster Road, Fulham. They have the best cream chesse + jam bagels. Oh and hot chocolate!
Bus 14 should take you there... ;)
Lisarocket
06-12-2004, 13:45
The Amazon Cafe on Holloway road opposite the cinema and up a bit. Lovely in there, Free newspapers, family atmosphere (run by mother and daughter) and somtimes has a small art exhibit up on the walls. Local artists can sell through there. There is a tiny little garden out the back in the summer but it is cramped. If you going in gfor lunch you need to get there by 12 or there's no tables.
Round the corner from the Amazon on Hercules Street are two really good cafes, both run by Italians. There's Manolis, which do the best fried eggs ever and the Hercules. I tend to go to the Hercules more as they have a huge menu, with a big list of specials that they change regularly. They do a lot of italian stuff (natch), but cater for all tastes. They have loads of different breakfast combinations and do a good bubble.
They also do good puddings, some of which are less than a pound.
Oh and it's licensed. I haven't had a beer in there for a while but i think it's about £1.40 a pint (for Fosters/Heiniken type stuff)
lighterthief
16-12-2004, 16:29
theres a boss one in lansdowne drive e8 whose name escapes me though.... has loads of old theatre adverts in it
The Fields Cafe, I think it's called. I used to live very near it, very friendly place and superb scrambled eggs on toast :D
Oh, and hello all btw - I've been lurking for a while here, but I guess this is my first 'proper' post :)
but its very cosy in winter- really good veggie food, badass soup, Sounds like a euphemism for diarrhea :eek:
i think this has been mentioned before on this thread, but i'll mention it again anyway, i popped into the amhurst cafe on amhurst road in hackney, today, never been there before, it's a cracking cafe....top notch, will definitely be using that one again :)
Pot-Bellied Pig
22-02-2005, 11:12
Whats' the one in Smithfields Meat Market where the breakfast plates are like the size of dustbin lids, and so are the fry ups and you can get a pint at 6am with it...used to go there years ago when I was young and doing nights and getting pissed in the early morning was fun. Alas too old now.
CAFE VOM is a new internet cafe down Aldgate east, opposite the art gallery near brick lane. They do lukewarm foods, curled-crust stale sandwiches and not to mention top notch Lavattia coffee, which I noticed were made in an impressive Wanker machine.
What strike’s you the most is the layout of the whole place, with poor quality faux leather seats and tables reminisces of the vibe from the TV series 'Steptoe & Son', but not as clean. The prices are low ranging from £1.65 for a Mocha to 75p for earl grey. With a 42 millimetre Plastic screen (I think) on top of the bar, it’s the best place to pose with a Hot chocolate. With more seats and computers downstairs, me and my mates have made it our new meeting point. It's my top recommendation, because I am devoid of taste and discernment, as well as a spellchecker.
Cant say I rate the London Cafe in Wood Green! Yeah its ok i suppose but nothing to write home about. A bit of imagination and it could be agreat place. Unlike Crouch End up the road Wood Green doesnt really have any great caffs.
Anyone been to Bewleys in Dublin - its now closed down - for good! ..there is a campaign to reopen ..
www.savebewleys.com
Mrs Magpie
07-03-2005, 15:41
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4325735.stm
Café listed by English Heritage
charlie mowbray
10-03-2005, 12:49
Spamming my soon-to-fail business venture
Is there a W.C. Handy? Cos I need to puke!
charlie mowbray
10-03-2005, 13:49
And meanwhile the vandalism of the classic cafes goes on. Centrale shut, and the Cappuccetto gutted of its Swiss chalet style booth :mad: s!
guinnessdrinker
25-03-2005, 16:31
Anyone been to Bewleys in Dublin - its now closed down - for good! ..there is a campaign to reopen ..
www.savebewleys.com
:eek: :(
Mrs Magpie
25-03-2005, 17:32
The prices are low ranging from £1.65 for a Mocha to 75p for earl grey.I call that bloody expensive, meself...and what is Lavattia coffee? Sounds like a counterfeit version of Lavazza....reminded me of a bottle of pirated perfume I saw once called Channel No4.....in fact your post looks suspiciously like spam to me....prepare for a bit of post-doctoring <rubs hands with glee!>
I call that bloody expensive, meself...and what is Lavattia coffee? Sounds like a counterfeit version of Lavazza....reminded me of a bottle of pirated perfume I saw once called Channel No4.....in fact your post looks suspiciously like spam to me....prepare for a bit of post-doctoring <rubs hands with glee!>
one post, recommends a cafe, leaves...i agree with you mrs m
Mrs Magpie
25-03-2005, 17:46
I had such fun altering the original post though....my favourite mod's perk....
verdigris
30-03-2005, 22:52
Whats' the one in Smithfields Meat Market where the breakfast plates are like the size of dustbin lids, and so are the fry ups and you can get a pint at 6am with it...used to go there years ago when I was young and doing nights and getting pissed in the early morning was fun. Alas too old now.
Fox & Anchor? Along Charterhouse Street. Went there once at 7 am for breakfast with a friend when we were both experiencing meat cravings. Ordered one breakfast to share since there was two of everything (two eggs, two sausages, etc.) and we aren't huge morning eaters. Waitress pointedly asked if we didn't want another breakfast, so we got two teas to appease her. When we asked for an extra set of cutlery, the waitress pursed her lips and asked if we wanted an extra plate too - why not, so we said yes. When she brought the plate she said disapprovingly 'We don't normally do this, you know'. Even the meat market workers looked like they were in fear of her.
charlie mowbray
31-03-2005, 09:29
:eek: :(
Bloody hell! is nothing sacred? (re. Bewlays)
charlie mowbray
31-03-2005, 09:38
Discovered a great new cafe called Franks on the Southwark Road- black and white vitrolite etc. Anybody else been there?
Went to Zippy's Grill on the Goldhawk Road at weekend. What a fine establishment. A rare specimen of the American diner style burger bar meets old time cafe (and you can get booze too including Turkish raki) the diner style lunch counter with round stools covered in red leatherette are great as are the booths also clad in red leatherette. And on top of this a motherly waitress. Across from here the very fine Harris' Cafe Rest (dig the typography) Also good typography on the Ritz Restaurant just down from here - now Greek Cypriot food ( you can get that rare thing- the Cypriot firewater zivania here) and the pistachio green Patio restaurant selling great Polish food at knockdown prices
Whats' the one in Smithfields Meat Market where the breakfast plates are like the size of dustbin lids,
Ferrari's.
I visited the New Piccadilly Cafe (as featured in the U75 London Cafe Guide)at the weekend, and I have to say it was absolutely superb. It was like stepping back in time, with efficient and friendly service from uniformed waiters, and all the original decor. We had cod chips and peas, bread and butter, sausage and mash, two cups of tea and two cups of coffee all for £12, hidden away in a back street in the heart of tourist land. Quality.
The best Cafe - East London:
coffee@158 - Brick Lane
Cafe@Brick Lane
Beautiful coffee :)
charlie mowbray
10-05-2005, 15:47
The fuck it is- if you're a Hoxton Twat mebbe!
Not exactly a cafe but no guide is complete without a mention of the Brick Lane Bagel shop. Delicious proper bagels the most expensive is smoked salmon (loads of) + cream cheese at £1.90. A cheese bagel is only 30p. A dozen to take away costs £1.44.
There are loads of yummy cakes including proper apple strudel and other breads and buns all very cheap.
The Jewish have the best food in the world imo
It may be an institution, but they're shit; the beigels might be ok (Stodgyish), but the fillings are vomitable especially the cheese cum plastic toilet paper.
I have to say that despite the abundance of eating places in London, the food quality is still short of the mark, I have places that I go to, but few that I could really rave about especially on the cheaper end. Any way here are a few of my selections.
Greasey Joe -would have to be the workers cafe at the top end of Church st Stoke Newington (Opp Clissold park) Their coffee aint too bad.
Take the kids to the Porchetta in upper st for Pizza/pasta Cheapish consistent (massive pizzas/portions) and the staff are great with the kids.
Go the Viet Hoa off Kingsland high Rd for Vietnamese
Gallipolli for a cheap Turkish mezze
(Mezze for two to share with bottle of plonk is about £18.00)
The usual gastro pubs (all seem the same to me but food ok)
Organic cafe in Dray walk (Off Brick lane) pricey but food/salads are good.
Best food I have is at home - my other half is a genius in the kitchen.
Edited to add a Cuban coffee/sandwich bar just opened opp Clapton pond called Havana, Coffee is brill -nice'n strong ( (And BTW/ IMO Coffee@bricklane is very average) Sandwiches are okayish.
Other coffee shop; Tinderbox in Upper St Islington (A bit poncy/expensive but coffee is good and consistent) Sandwiches are crap, cakes are ok.
Or of course a decent coffee is also on offer at the mobile coffee van across the street.
Generally coffee in London is a real disappointment, Starbucks has five shit bucket of milk-froth shops in upper st I fucking hate 'em.
Haven't read through all 5 pages of recommendation, so these might have been mentioned before...
Candid Arts Cafe (Islington, behind Angel tube next to Electowerks - very nice atmosphere and good veg food (a little pricey though). Could easily spend hours there reading the papers. Good one for dates, so I hear.
Food for Thought (Covent Garden) - Excellent veg food, with great value large portions. Always busy. My mate is the head chef, so I often get to eat for free :) (don't but tell the owner)
Cafe Kick (Exmouth Market) - because the staff treat customers like friends, the bottled beer is only £1.50 4-7pm daily, they have table football (which I like), and it's on one of my favourite streets.
Peace,
Josef.
i'd second those recommendations, haven't been to 'Food for Thought' though for ages always found that you were under pressure to eat your grub and get the fuck out -not a place to linger.
Guineveretoo
15-07-2005, 10:40
Peppertons in Selhurst is a hidden gem and I love the place. The food is fabby - vegetarian and vegan - and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. It's address is 25 Selhurst Road, London, se25 5pp. Telephone: 02086834462.
It sells home made cakes and organic beer and wine, as well as wonderful and unusual meals, has a garden out the back, and doubles as an art gallery.
I can't recommend it enough. Because of where it is, it rarely gets busy (except when there is a private viewing, as there was recently, as part of the Make Poverty History programme).
Okay, I think I have raved enough for now. Hope some of you will try it!
:)
guinnessdrinker
15-07-2005, 19:10
Generally coffee in London is a real disappointment, Starbucks has five shit bucket of milk-froth shops in upper st I fucking hate 'em.
the best coffee in london is on the Old Kent Road. try the 2 North african coffee shop (opposite each other) near the post office. proper coffee, that is.
I'm about to post up a short guide to the best cafes in London, in the style of the Brixton cafe guide (http://www.urban75.org/brixton/cafes/index.html).
I'd really appreciate your help on this, so if you've got any cafe gems to share, please post up its name, address, (if poss) phone number and a short paragraph describing what's so darn good about it.
Lebonese cafe in Queensway, genuinely friendly welcome fresh well made food at a good price.
java1200
28-07-2005, 14:25
Jack's Cafe, Salisbury Road, NW6. Nearest tube: Queen's Park.
£4.95 for their "double." 2 sausages, 2 bacon, 2 eggs, chips or two hash browns, beans, mushrooms, tomato and two slices of toast. Plus all the tea you can drink.
They do other stuff too, but I've only ever been in for a fry-up. It is quite small though, so it can get mobbed at the weekend.
Lisarocket
31-07-2005, 16:43
Take the kids to the Porchetta in upper st for Pizza/pasta Cheapish consistent (massive pizzas/portions) and the staff are great with the kids.
Or go to the original one on Stroud Green Road in Finsbury Park. Great for birthdays- they bash trays over your head and throw pizza dough at you :D
Cheap, good food, huge portions, lively atmos, great (mostly Italian) waiting staff and less minimal looking than the one on Upper Street.
Take the kids to the Porchetta in upper st for Pizza/pasta Cheapish consistent (massive pizzas/portions) and the staff are great with the kids.
Go the Viet Hoa off Kingsland high Rd for Vietnamese
Gallipolli for a cheap Turkish mezze
(Mezze for two to share with bottle of plonk is about £18.00)
The usual gastro pubs (all seem the same to me but food ok)
Edited to add a Cuban coffee/sandwich bar just opened opp Clapton pond called Havana, Coffee is brill -nice'n strong ( (And BTW/ IMO Coffee@bricklane is very average) Sandwiches are okayish.
Or of course a decent coffee is also on offer at the mobile coffee van across the street.
we move in the same sort of circles batboy, gallipolli is a real winner, friendly staff, great turkish meals, viet hoa also an excellent cafe, the porchetta in finsbury park is better (as has been said), that mobile van is great, lovely bloke runs it,
and i have passed by that havana loads of times, i'll check it out now :)
java1200
31-07-2005, 17:05
Yeah, I'd say the Finsbury Park Porchetta is miles better than the one on Upper Street; it's much bigger, and has a much nicer atmosphere in my opinion. The decor in the Upper Street branch is a bit cold imo.
L'Artista, which has branches in Golders Green and Hendon, is another favourite of mine.
Mrs Magpie
07-08-2005, 13:18
The Queen's Head on Black Prince Road (the end closest to the river at the far end of the council estate). It looks like a pub and in some ways it is, sort of. They do Karaoke in the evenings but during the day it's a caff. It's sort of like a little French cafe/bar except the food is standard London caff stuff, but they have a licence for alcohol. Anyway, I had a sausage sandwich and a beer. Very good and really lovely bread, great fresh doorsteps of it, a crusty bloomer from the look of my sarnie, with a really good crunchy crust. Best bread in a caff I've had for a long time. Good value too. My companion had a bacon and salad sarnie, I had a sausage sarnie and we had half a pint of beer each. £6.20p for the two of us. Not bad for a caff so close to the centre of London. Extra bonus for who like that sort of thing http://www.longdog.karoo.net/smilies/eh.gif is that lots of firemen eat in there :)
btw They're on a two week annual holiday at the moment.
Echo Base
25-08-2005, 15:51
Its not London, but FWIW, the best cafe in Essex is the Rose Cafe in Chelmsford on the old A12. Orange seats and white plastic table, and a gut-buster fry up and tea for £6. Its always RAMMED full of builders and truck drivers, which is always a good indication of QUALITY in such an establishment.
01245 496788 is the number - give em a go if youre up this way!
This is one of those lovely cafes which looks like it hasn't changed for over 40 years. It has old formica table and two separate sections one smoking, one non. Good food, good coffee and friendly service.
charlie mowbray
12-10-2005, 09:19
Yes, I really recommend this cafe, too! It's wonderful!! Vitrolite AND formica!
Nobody has mentioned the New Picadilly Cafe!
Denman Street's finest - formica and Italian food at its best. Its even been in Time Out :p
The market cafe on whitecross street used to be great when I went there about 7 years ago (£3 for a big plate of food), but I walked past there on friday, and they've changed the insides completely. I didn't walk in there (went to the chippie instead). Barbican Grill looked pretty good, and there was an indian food van that smelt gorgeous. Will be investigating that road over the next few months :)
Nobody has mentioned the New Picadilly Cafe!
Except this site's editor! :p
http://www.urban75.org/london/piccadilly.html
Went to a place called the Chelsea Bun Diner; pretty damn good and they serve breakfast until 6pm!
William of Walworth
20-11-2005, 01:04
The Famous Walworth Road Cafe in (guess it :p ) had its owners retire after 27 years recently, it's now reopening as a Subway!! :mad:
huckster6
09-12-2005, 20:00
2 places-----
(1) Indian Vegetarian restaurant, Chapel Street Market, Islington....all you can eat £2.95. Menu doesn't vary much. Not gourmet quality, but good nutritious grub. Highly recommended.
(2) ICO, Goodge Street W1. Lovely Pizza from £3.00. Salads, pasta, sandwiches half price after 4pm. Brilliant place, very pretty female staff who work very hard. Highly recommended.
check'emout.
charlie mowbray
12-12-2005, 11:40
Not a caff though, is it?
Cafe house in walworth road is alright, nice and clean anyway and always quite busy so they must be doing something right.
You must try the regency cafe in page street over off horseferry road, sometimes frequented by rick stein, and does a great breakfast....
dynamicbaddog
25-04-2006, 16:58
I would like to recommend the Pop Inn Cafe at the Blue, Bermondsey. 4 quid gets you a choice of Welsh, Scottish,Irish or English breakfasts. I opted for the Irish it came with white pudding which I'd never had before :)
Geoffers
16-05-2006, 12:00
I prefer my cafes to concentrate on coffee; coffee and maybe cake.
I was also looking for an analogue of pubs - in terms of opening hours - for tee-totallers like me. It's difficult when so many cafes close at 6, or - for some of the cuter tea rooms - 5, as if 'going out for a drink in the evenings' is something unheard of!
That's why I like...
Coffee, Cake and Kink
61 Endell Street, Covent Garden, London WC2
Phone. 7419 2996
They brew their coffee in cafetieres so the beans (which you can smell and choose) are given space and time to infuse properly, and there's no massive chrome barrier of an espresso machine that staff can bash around at with coffee-tipped hammers.
The cake is nice, juicy and varied, and it's open late: until 8pm Sundays and weekdays; 11pm Fridays and Saturdays. Perfect!
Coffee, Cake and Kink
I love that place! the coffee is great... there's now added seating in the basement.
I like this one in Finchley Road:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f273/Reno_Dakota/louis.jpg
Great cakes and it has one of those interiors which haven't changed since the 60's.
I love that cafe too. :)
Roxy641
Except this site's editor! :p
http://www.urban75.org/london/piccadilly.html
Monkeynuts
13-06-2006, 22:58
It may be an institution, but they're shit; the beigels might be ok (Stodgyish), but the fillings are vomitable especially the cheese cum plastic toilet paper.
And why does every pr1ck go to the one nearest Bethnal Green Rd when the one two doors down has no queue and is identical? Because they read it in Time Out, that's why.
Stobart Stopper
23-06-2006, 15:41
Here's my nomination: Cafe 104, 104 Tanners Lane, Barkingside. (next door to Sainsbury's) We eat there alot and it's always packed out, but the service is excelllent as is the food. Never had a bad meal there. Lovely coffee as well. Very reasonably priced.
Found a gem of a cafe right on my doorstep,The Gresham Cafe,338 Coldharbour Lane.Loads of traditional breakfasts to choose from(under £4 iirc)and you get a proper cuppa and lovely crusty bread thrown in :) .Looks small from the outside but once in there its like the tardis,huge seating at the rear and seating in the garden.I opted for a roast as they have such a wide selection and i was not dissappointed,it was pucker.The atmosphere was welcoming as is the friendly staff :D
squeegee
01-08-2006, 09:59
I'd like to nominate the legendary Mario's Cafe, 4 Kelly Street, Kentish Town. It's run by a London Italian, Mario, who is famous for his chatty persona.
His mum does the Italian food, the cappuccino's great and the rest of the food is standard fry-up fare.
But this is the cafe that had St Etienne using the name for one of their songs. At one time many of the Camden indie bands like Primal Scream used to pop in. Beth Orton was a regular at one time and Urban favourite Rob Newman occasionally pops in to say hi.
Saturday mornings are usually good for conversation. It's one of those cafes where strangers strike up conversation and anything is up for discussion. A bit like Urban :)
Check it out if you're ever in the Camden area.
Squeegee :p
It may be an institution, but they're shit; the beigels might be ok (Stodgyish), but the fillings are vomitable especially the cheese cum plastic toilet paper.
eh??!!
Did you try their salt beef and mustard one???!!!
Roadkill
01-08-2006, 10:10
I nominate Picho's, on Woolwich New Road, just off Beresford Square in Woolwich. Superbly old-fashioned, smoky greasy spoon. Does a superb breakfast for about three quid. A fine hangover cure. :cool:
The Valley Cafe, on Charlton Church Lane, is pretty good too.
Red Faction
19-08-2006, 01:55
in whitechapel- star cafe
opposite A+E, on the aldgate side of the macdonalds
everything you'd want from a cafe including awesome milkshakes
in barbican- the smithfield cafe
open all night and morning- so after a heavy night of drinking/clubbing theres always a baconburger waiting
popping in for lunch etc during the day
they make anything you want
had the best sandwich in the world there a couple of weeks back
a double decked sandwich
sausage sandwich on the bottom
with a lovely BLT on the top :cool: :cool:
Thanks for starting this thread. I hope to try out many of the cafes mentioned here.
I like real 'cafes' not bistros pretending to be cafes but I'd more or less given up on london cafes.
When I ask for 'bubble & squeek' I get a "Huh!" or some horrible soupy slop with uncooked cabbage.
If I ask for real coffee I get charged a £1+ and get Nescafe. If I say "what's that" I'm told "real coffee, nescafe".
art of fact
29-09-2006, 16:59
peilucci's on bethnal green road good old italian greasy spoon with some decent bubble and tasy fuckin bacon cooked just right... the staff are a delight aswell.. get some right character poppin in
Three I like are all classic caffs:
Mary's cafe 83 Camberwell Rd SE5. The best tasting workers tea I have ever had, worth the journey just for her tea and warm hospitality.
Beppe's cafe cor. West Smithfield & Hosier Lane EC1 opp St Barts and Smithfield market. Good for most stuff but being an Italian place try the ciabatta's and canneloni. Steak pie, mash, gravy and beans is excellent. Framed pics and memorabilia a nice touch.
Golden Fish Farringdon Road, EC1. Fish and chip heaven near Mount Pleasant Post Office. Good cheap food and authentic classic cafe style.
Orang Utan
28-10-2006, 16:00
http://russelldavies.typepad.com/ateaandathink/images/IMG_0961-thumb.JPG
A proper trad caff - nice old decor and friendly staff. Frequentes by many cabbies but also media types and featured in the film Layer Cake
Orang Utan
28-10-2006, 16:01
http://russelldavies.typepad.com/ateaandathink/2004/06/regency_cafe_17.html
:)
Orang Utan
28-10-2006, 16:08
Oh, I see it's already been mentioned a few times :cool:
rutabowa
31-10-2006, 12:17
And why does every pr1ck go to the one nearest Bethnal Green Rd when the one two doors down has no queue and is identical? Because they read it in Time Out, that's why.
i dunno i just go to whichever has less queue. the beigels are Cheap, tath's the greatest thing about them, tho the chopped herring ones are nice and i like plastic cheese. the other best thing is the tea, they make it the proper way rinsing water thru a stewed pot of leaves then diluitng.
tbaldwin
15-11-2006, 15:22
in whitechapel- star cafe
opposite A+E, on the aldgate side of the macdonalds
everything you'd want from a cafe including awesome milkshakes
in barbican- the smithfield cafe
open all night and morning- so after a heavy night of drinking/clubbing theres always a baconburger waiting
popping in for lunch etc during the day
they make anything you want
had the best sandwich in the world there a couple of weeks back
a double decked sandwich
sausage sandwich on the bottom
with a lovely BLT on the top :cool: :cool:
Your not serious?
Minging cafs......Seriously you must be very brave or wreckless....
As has already been mentioned the Regency Cafe in Pimlico is great....
...for more of a reality check you've got to try Mary's towards the bottom of The Walworth Road, by Burgess park - the decor is frightening but the owner is really cool and more importantly the food is top notch, even if you ask for poached eggs. real crusty toast, and he makes a mean latte as well....:cool:
just popped into the thread to check that The Regency had been mentioned. :rolleyes: It's not as if they need any more custom! :mad: